New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-25
THE DRAMA.
PAUL KAVVAR OR ANARCHY.

| PAUL KAUVAR OR ANARCHY.
The Christmas festival IS essentially festival q.
the Church and the home, and # might we'll be wi,het
that theatrical managers would refrain from bringing
OUT new plays on Christmas Eve and night. Most
people such a time, prefer to give their attention
/ to realities and not 10 fcons. and assuredly # s
desirable. for the public good that nothing should be
done intercept this tendency, and that everything
should be done to favor it. Among the many move
menS I'm contemporary American civilization move
mcn IS more essential or could prove more sanitary
than a movement tending foster the home life Of tho
people Christmas IS not for the theatre.
The drama Of Paul Kauvar. Anarchy by Mr.
steele Mackaye, which brought ont last night at
the STANDARD Theatre. thus receiving lts first repre-
sentation In New York, IS fortunate in the time
OF arrival here. and certainly II IS harmonious
with the splrit Of the Immediate season This cons!deIa
on. however VIII soon pass ard meanwhile the new
piece undoubtedly Is strong in picturesque situations
surprising Incidents and a sympathetic ideal Of
heroic character-on which account doubtless, II will
commend Itself TO general favor. Technically it Is
meodrama-lts subject being the Reign Of Terror IN
France, l79i and. Ike most melodIapas upon that
theme, # IS Passionate boisterous, explosive AMI
nsderably oycr-cIShtcd with fcrvcnt rhetoric. in
coherent social philosophy, and superscrvceable mob
Eighteen characters and $50 anxllarlcs figure in IL;
is principal persons much addicted 20 ION: specie:
and Hudccurent OF IT'S drift seems to set In favor
Of the leading IDEAS Of tho French Revolution
with reservation that they not be carried too
| far.
There have been various thinkers before now. who
like tho late Wendell Phillips. could approve that
carnival If crime as an unmtig gated blessing to tho
world. The author Of this piece, In 80 FAR As he has
rejected at all, appears to have followed the sane
Of tLou-h that IS pursued by Victor Hugo in that
famous cOllOtuy In which this subject IS discussed
ly tho bishop and the political hermit. in the first
book Of Les Mserablcs' The people had suffered
so much at The hands Of tyranny that terrific reri
button became Inevitable. and therefore, was justified;
but, even TO popular rights there Is rational limit
lhis to be the doctrine of the play but indeed
This piece IS found he very loosely connected with
any Of those practical questions which are suggested
b. It's title Of Anarchy 10 doubt the victims OF
tyranny haze right 10 rebel, and IL may b. AURA
that they should become savage Ia redie>sluS thclt
wrongs. oar own time, however, ma .Ecn plooi
that people who have really no wronss to redress
against LAWFUL authority, and commit Huiohs
IN the name S1SIcct " h nsteI at any ieas.
T NJ this coua'tIy-r Is lesson that the
people are under obligations of public duty as well
~ In possession Of personal rights. As matter OF
fact the people hear far Ia, lile about "hai lhey
owe to the country and far too much about what ne
strong ground Of any kind with reference 10 MS sub
icct but LA, been content to favor his audience WIN
ME than there +, in his play II baby thc intention
was much to discuss this subject a. 10 launch
mpon The wave Of contemporaneou, excitement Ta'
piece Is simply the II y Of a gallant young fellow
n a time Of great disturbance and peril was pcrletu.
ally stare dag Ia the zap foi S,mehty else. Al hist
he had privately married. and whose beiraScr NJ hal
Teen tlcacheyously made To appear Ike surrey
aroher mans life but unlike sidney carton. h. hl1
the good fortune 10 escape the knife Ailer tha no
and Saycd that officers he Al The imminent risk nos
only Of his own life. but that of bis bride, hs
hlacrty I'm getting into danger was only equard ny
rs good luck in getting out o H. The drama i OIf
Of SITUATION. and m every situation PAU HauVat OF az
4 ,,fft all
his wif,-mo~i earnestly played by Joseph liANoli
AMI Annie Rolc-N he central figure Mo Women, "
suspense are frequent. The movement Is CONTINUOUS;
An slr OF frveriSh excitement Is arfully thrown a"ni
the piece and Is steadily sustained IN ms le>pSs
srmhc that fine play either I'm exposition oi oh4i
or IN the concentrated ANALYSIS and p'rttaAn VI
great representative indy idua experience N"en a.
/, over the result f, that you have seen otaN' u,"v
and loving woman safely carried i,'u W., al in
rrrils and that YOU think as probably you "' -
ibr hr.i placc-that the French EeN1luuoh va -"
historic horror. and that anar'sY j "''''-
iii, piece accordingly should be 'on,' drred apas
from implication Of any poHtich nll ~ t.f milf1,ls
ptt,r,vS lie horror, ~ the Reign of Terror mus r'
iruv ~ ~ rchuLc to Anarchy bur anarchy Is a mnf
SA',N o ' ,tt If need, no rcbuhc other than tnat
~ rhn ,,lnys nr The hayouct The thing H1Nr ~
Wr W,rkayr Is The presentation of thrilling P 5bnr,
~ sn,mc n,urobablity AT the basis al inc P,o IA, pS
,9rir, acIn Is Incredible The conduc, oi me
hrro a good soul engaged I'm signing uNm yitt
Anu anu | m1n.ie ,ta~a,tcr The Development oi ,hD pD
is retarded particularly IN he list a't' ny pi eni
speeches. aud by passages "l N'l ,c,Is IN al hrs
r. distinctly marlrd hy the lnt"lW i"t , lin,
hlosranhcai rccoIecton> on th' par q, ny III srrt
The Tone Of the piece too Intensely daIh h ,i
numerous relief a, the lowcom'dN lux" Story
trivial and inapprOWiatr N"u s,rinn,
however can be told in no Other th'" t,,,c,.,
manner AMI MIR Mackaye commonly -" Via WITH tM
ne tries 10 temper his naturally >rl"u' Nina.,,r fc
touch ~ an artificial payfuinr>S. n,, lnrns
unrcr upon details especially p'r''plon .,,ai
Inherent strength and they ought NOT To-, az ,srs
to drag for want of condensation. Their u'W' ,liy
emphasized by the stcutOran manner "a ~ IA
adopted 10y Mr. IIaworh IN thr h nstrio would
publcan views Not even a Frcu'h pa'ii" lily
haN ~ brought the Reign of Terror mo NJ Wv" 49,
circle by voccrating stump slrT,S u" ~, v,lnn from
being hOwlcd. Earnest ana pu"'lui ~ az -, was
certainly was and hts rarr and beanilih W., cn,
heard with frequent pleasure, but hl> c,onl". bs
iniudlclous. and his acting Is oitrh Hru' .,,,ra
tl1ctnn The manner Of Miss Annie kohc-
spon ancouS, sincere, marked ny me pmd'S s,on--
pose aud rising with occasion fo dignity anu Ppcf a.
was In marked contrast '"'h VI" VI "''
When every defect IS set ADD =, m
Machaycs PSy remains ans ,s oos o>uoai
Tie talleau OF the gullotlre. which IA in,auun1j Ms
n. dream. scene I'm act first Is nagnih'cnt ~" I'm
iy horror Of the reality OF those hidcou' scenes "P
narticmIar account of the plot would be tedious.
those readers who know The Tale OF Two ,lt,cS
which this play recalls wmhou, readily d.
, ,iSst ec drift and character of tho production
shows Inventive power dramatic skill, literary tso'
and uncommon fcrvcncy Of humanitarian ehhns'a 18th
II was followed with eager attention, a. ,lo, With
nerfect tumit OF applause. Mr.. Mac aye was ss'.o"
before tho curtain at the end OF the nrst 'aw
when he begged the audience TO let me p,srs
proceed and there were calls lot ,av aid sae-
coed last night